Simplex Spelling Light vs Spelliful
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Simplex Spelling Light
This app enhances spelling and reading skills with a unique "reverse phonics" approach and contextually relevant spelling rules. It offers interactive learning for various student types, providing immediate feedback and explanations for word construction.
- Reverse phonics approach
- Contextual spelling rule hints
- Letter-by-letter feedback
- Over 50 high-frequency words
- Spoken words in sentences
- User stats and reporting
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Simplex Spelling Light improves spelling and reading skills in a fun and interactive way using a unique “reverse phonics” approach in combination with contextually relevant spelling rules. It has the same critically acclaimed design and features as the full versions of Simplex Spelling but comes with its own new high frequency word spelling lists. This Light version has been made available so that customers can evaluate the Simplex Spelling software to decide if they want to purchase a full version of Simplex Spelling Sight Words, CVC Words, Phonics1, Phonics2, or Phonics3. Simplex Spelling Light contains the main features of the full versions, while targeting more than 50 all new high frequency words in the English language. This makes the Light version a beautiful compliment to the full versions of Simplex Spelling. The Light version also includes placement tests in the Phonics1, Phonics2, and Phonics 3 classrooms to help customers determine which app is the best fit. In contrast with many of the current approaches that use flash cards, Simplex Spelling enables the student to build each word. Students gain skills above and beyond the sheer memorization of words, as the informative spelling rule hint feature explains why words are spelled in a particular manner. Simplex Spelling's unique, immediate letter by letter feedback system is designed with clues and hints that will enable every student to spell each word successfully. Simplex Spelling enhances understanding in a variety of students as it appeals to audio, visual and tactile learners. It is great tool to have for kids learning to spell, remedial students, or those learning English as a second language. Recommended for ages 5+. Note: You can not create your own spelling lists in Simplex Spelling Light. Features: - Over 50 high frequency spelling words to help build literacy. - Spelling words are spoken and used in a sentence to establish context. - The introduction spelling list seamlessly leads a student through all of the application’s features by providing spoken information while having the student spell new words. - A powerful phonics hint feature sounds out each word and provides a list of possible phonograms for each sound. - Features a full “reverse phonics” approach that includes sounds made by all the different letter combinations. This is in addition to the basic “single letter” phonics that most applications are limited to. - Contextually relevant spelling rule hints that help explain “how to spell” English words. - Unique letter by letter feedback system that provides feedback while the student is in the process of spelling each word. - Guaranteed success on every word. - Support for 40 user accounts. - User stats screen that allows you to see at a glance words that have been mastered and words that require further practice. - Ability to export & email student reports. - Remembers each user’s position in every list, so that you can immediately resume from where you last left off. - Supports both upper and lower case letters. - Supports both alphabetic and QWERTY keyboard layouts. - Supports both US, UK and Canadian English spelling of words. - An approach that appeals to audio, visual and tactile learners. Privacy Disclosure: - No 3rd party ads - Does not share any data - No In-App purchases - Contains child protected links to Apple App Store. - Contains child protected links in app to developer's website for additional information, support and teaching tips. - Contains child protected link to developer email support. COPPA Compliant https://pyxwise.com/privacy-policy/
Spelliful
This app helps users learn and test spelling words through repetitive activities, practice sessions, and timed tests. Users can input their own word lists, record audio, and even add images or videos for enhanced learning. It offers a free version with limitations and paid upgrades for unlimited access and advanced sharing features.
- Customizable word lists
- Recordable audio for words
- Repetitive learning activities
- Timed spelling tests
- Practice modes
- Importable word lists
- Image/video support for hearing impaired
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Spelliful will be you or your child’s weekly spelling buddy. This app is designed to help you or your child learn their words and test better. The process to achieve this is by doing a repetitive activity (or Spellitivity), to get familiarity of the word, then do a practice with no pressure and finally do a real timed test. You will input your list and record an audio of you saying the word. If you don't want to record your own voice you can turn on the system voiceover to cover that for you. For added challenges you can record the word's definition instead of just word. With the layout of having all your list on the left with your selected list in the middle you can easily choose a list then choose what to do with it, Spellitivity, Test, Edit or Share. *This app makes it really easy for a teacher to create a list and share it with the students/parents. *For the Hearing Impaired, you can add an image or video to each word with the audio or no audio. This is very helpful with video clips for Sign Language. *Spelliful is free to use but is limited. Free users are allowed to have 3 of their own list at a time with 5 words per list, but can import in as many ready made list they would like from Teacher Mode users. You can always combine list to one just to send to the activities. An In-App purchase is in available for .99 cents to Unlimited the app. TEACHERMODE for Sharing List Another In-App purchase is available for $2.99 for Teachermode. This feature lets any user share any list they created with audios only. When using Teachermode just setup a share link in the app. When you share the app will provide you with a share code, that you distribute. This is NOT social media and you are NOT posting to a public platform. Here’s how it works: ADDING WORDS 1st. Add data by tapping the New List button in top right corner. Create a list name or use todays date. Then type your word, tap the record button to record you saying the word, then tap Add Word button. 2nd. Repeat the process for each word. 3rd. When list is done, tap “Save” to save and exit. You can also import in a list with audios by users of the Teacher Mode. This is not affected by the apps limits in free version. You can import as many as you like. LEARNING Choose your list. The list name is stated above the current list of words. Choose between Activity, Practice Test or Test. SPELLITIVITY – The Activity is unscrambling the word and is done in 3 levels. First level, the word is shown and the speaker icon will play that current word you recorded. Drag the letters to form the word. Second level, the word will disappear after 2 seconds. Tap speaker to hear and show word briefly. Third level, no word will be shown. Drag the letters to form word. If incorrect you must try again. Third level data will be recorded and shown in the Progress page, time completed and number of missed attempts. PRACTICE TEST – When you are ready you can take a practice test. Tap to start. Your recorded word will play and you must spell it correctly. After typing word hit Go on the keyboard. You will be notified if right or wrong. There will be no time limit per word and you advance when you get the word right. Practice does not show in Progress Report TEST – Testing is similar to Practice Test, except you are timed. The moment the word is played the clock counts down (duration can be adjusted in Settings). If time expires the next word is in play. After you complete a word it will auto advance to next word, until Test is complete. This Test will show in Progress Report page.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Spelliful at 5.0 against Simplex Spelling Light's 3.8. Spelliful also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months). Simplex Spelling Light's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and review sentiment (77% vs 67%). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Spelliful sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Simplex Spelling Light asks for nothing beyond the download.
Spelliful holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 77% of Simplex Spelling Light's written reviews are positive against 67% of Spelliful's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Simplex Spelling Light ships an update every 10 months, Spelliful every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.
| Parameter | Simplex Spelling Light | Spelliful |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (11 ratings) | 5.0 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 77.1% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 257 MB | 76 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pyxwise Software Inc. | Adam Morrone |
Customer experience
Simplex Spelling Light
Spelliful
Bugs and requests
Simplex Spelling Light
Reported bugs
3 issues- Consonant digraphs don't match phonemes
- Letters sounded out individually instead of phonemes
- No volume
Requested features
10 requests- Ability to create custom word lists
- Option to lock lists until mastered
- More word lists/grade levels
- Option to make sentences with words
- Illustrations for engagement
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- Practice and learn section
- Option to select English spellings
- English accent option
- Sticker collecting feature
- More expansions/spelling lists
Spelliful
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Simplex Spelling Light
No in-app purchases
Spelliful
- Teacher's Desk Monthly$0.991 Month
- Teacher's Desk Plus Monthly$1.991 Month
- Teacher's Desk$9.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Teacher's Desk Plus Yearly$19.991 Year
- Teacher Mode$24.99
Questions
Is Simplex Spelling Light free?
Is Spelliful free?
Which has better reviews, Simplex Spelling Light or Spelliful?
Do Simplex Spelling Light or Spelliful have ads?
Which is updated more often, Simplex Spelling Light or Spelliful?
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